Guardian podcast examines Abu Dhabi ownership in Manchester under Andy Burnham
Helen Pidd and Josh Halliday discuss Emirati money, alleged sweetheart land deals and transparency in Manchester during Burnham's mayoralty.
At a glance
- The Guardian's Today in Focus podcast examined Abu Dhabi's investment in Manchester during Andy Burnham's nearly ten years as mayor.
- The episode, released on 26 October 2026, raised questions about alleged sweetheart land deals and a lack of transparency.
- It asked who benefited from UAE investment and what it means for the prime minister's plan to export 'Manchesterism'.
The Guardian's Today in Focus podcast published an episode on 26 October 2026 examining Abu Dhabi's role in reshaping Manchester during Andy Burnham's nearly ten years as mayor. Presenter Helen Pidd, a Manchester resident, walks through modern Manchester with North of England editor Josh Halliday to chart its transformation wrought by Emirati money. The Guardian's business section published the audio report.
It is framed around the question of why Andy Burnham recently intervened to defend Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners, days after they were found guilty of one of the biggest cheating scandals in British sporting history. The episode comes from the Guardian's Today in Focus series.
Pidd and Halliday discuss how Abu Dhabi came to Manchester and came to own so much land. They examine alleged "sweetheart deals" behind the acquisitions and a lack of transparency about the arrangements that persists even now. The discussion centers on the scale of Emirati ownership in the city.
The podcast asks who ultimately has benefited from the UAE's investment in Manchester. It also asks what the situation tells us about Burnham's time as mayor, given the prime minister's interest in exporting his model of "Manchesterism" across the country.
The allegations concern sweetheart deals that allowed Abu Dhabi to acquire so much land in Manchester. A lack of transparency about these arrangements continues even now, raising questions about accountability and who gained from the investment. Research from Sheffield University referenced in the episode is available through the Guardian's website. The Sheffield University research can be found via a link in the episode.
Source: The Guardian Business.
Questions and answers
- Why did Andy Burnham defend Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners?
- The podcast examines why Burnham intervened to defend the owners days after they were found guilty of one of the biggest cheating scandals in British sporting history.
- What does the Guardian podcast say about Abu Dhabi's land ownership in Manchester?
- It discusses alleged sweetheart deals that allowed Abu Dhabi to acquire so much land and notes a lack of transparency about the arrangements.
- What research is referenced in the episode?
- The episode references research from Sheffield University, which is available through the Guardian's website.
